Claimed by the Alphas: Part Five Read Free Page A

mad?”
    “No.”
    “I’m mad at you, too, you know,” she told him as they entered his chamber.
    Afternoon sunlight filtered in from the fissure in the ceiling, illuminating the room in sharp panels of light. Caim carried her over to a shaded corner, setting her down gently on a pallet of furs.
    “And what do you have to be angry about?” he asked, kneeling down in front of her. He grabbed one of the pelts, giving it a few shakes before draping it over her shoulders.
    Up close, Mila could see where Asch’s fist had collided with his nose earlier that morning. She winced, taking in the dark bruising and broken blood vessels.
    “That’s my fault,” she said, her brows drawing together. His lips flattened.
    “Yes, it is.” He settled beside her, lying down onto the pallet and propping his head up with his arm. Giving her a meaningful look, he said, “It was mine as well.”
    Mila lay down next to him, mimicking his position. “I’m all for letting you take the blame, but I don’t see how me wandering off like a moron was your fault.”
    “I was responsible for you.”
    She rolled her eyes. “I’m an adult, Caim. I’m responsible for my own actions, however stupid they may be.”
    “You are my mate,” he stubbornly replied. “I am responsible for your safety.”
    Mila reached out, placing a hand on his jaw. “Fair enough,” she said, running her thumb across his hard cheekbone. She didn’t really agree with him, but she sort of understood his perspective, and with Caim that was about as far as she usually got anyway.
    He grunted, hooking an arm around her waist and turning her body, so that her back was against his chest. He was uncharacteristically careful with her, and when he rested his hand over her abdomen, she remembered why. She tilted her head back to look at him.
    “ Do you want to be a father?”
    It had occurred to her that while she knew Asch was eager to be a parent, she’d never asked Caim’s feelings on the matter. If she were pregnant, there was just as much of a chance that the baby would be Caim’s.
    He returned her gaze, his own eyes heavy-lidded. “It will be something to do.”
    Mila made a face. “Something to do? It’s a huge responsibility.”
    Caim gave a half-hearted shrug. “I have been responsible for the well-being of others for most of my life. I doubt it will be much different.”
    “It’s way different than just being in charge of a pack of wolves. Babies are like, tiny, helpless little creatures that are totally reliant on their parents for everything. You have to remember to feed them and you can’t drop them, and if you make one mistake you can screw them up for the rest of their lives.”
    God, how scary.
    Caim did not look impressed by her rant. “Do not project your own feelings of inadequacy on me.”
    She fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Whatever, tough guy. You’ll see for yourself.”
    He looked satisfied, as if he’d actually won the argument. Mila faced away, but scooted herself closer to him. Despite the vast difference in their sizes and builds, their bodies always fit together so perfectly.
    Caim slipped a hand under her shirt, his warm hand cupping her bare stomach. She asked, “Do you want me to get undressed?”
    “No,” he replied, his voice thick with sleep. “I will need to mate with you if you do.”
    Despite everything they’d been through in the past two weeks, Caim could still make her blush. She considered tempting him, but ultimately decided against it. She was exhausted, and was in dire need of a good days’ sleep.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Another week passed in the pack, this one surprisingly easier than the ones that had come before. Mila still missed Asch a lot, but there was none of the drama she’d grown so accustomed to.
    By night, she and Caim did their own things. Most of his time was devoted to hunting and other activities outside the den. His spent his mornings on the dais with Lotus and Sable, occasionally mediating